Plural ignorance

Plural ignorance or pluralistic ignorance is a term which gives a name to a situation where a majority of group members privately reject a norm, but at the same time, they assume incorrectly that most others accept it.[1] The term describes a context in which "no one believes, but everyone thinks that everyone believes."[2]

The term pluralistic ignorance was coined by Daniel Katz and Floyd H. Allport in 1931.[1]

Plural ignorance may partially explain why people are more likely to intervene in an emergency situation when alone than when other persons are present.[5] If people monitor the reactions of others in such a situation, they may conclude from the inaction of others that other people think that it is not necessary to act.